assignat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “assignat” mean?
A paper bill issued during the French Revolution, secured by confiscated national lands.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A paper bill issued during the French Revolution, secured by confiscated national lands.
A piece of paper money, especially one not backed by sufficient specie and thus prone to devaluation; more broadly, a historical example of fiat currency or financial instrument.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Slight variance in pronunciation.
Connotations
In both varieties, the term carries strong historical and economic connotations, specifically related to hyperinflation and the failure of revolutionary finance.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, encountered almost exclusively in historical or economic texts.
Grammar
How to Use “assignat” in a Sentence
The [French Revolutionary] government issued assignats.The assignat [rapidly depreciated/lost value].He held a worthless assignat.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; used metaphorically to warn against unsound currency or financial instruments.
Academic
Standard in historical and economic papers on the French Revolution or monetary history.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used in economic history as a case study of hyperinflation and fiat currency failure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “assignat”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “assignat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “assignat”
- Pronouncing it as 'a-SIG-nat' (stress on second syllable is uncommon).
- Using it as a general synonym for any modern banknote.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is exclusively a historical term for the French Revolutionary currency, though it can be used metaphorically.
In British English, it's commonly /ˈæsɪɡnæt/ (ASS-ig-nat). American English may also use /ˌæsɪɡˈnɑː/ (as-sig-NAH), influenced by French.
It demonstrates the dangers of hyperinflation when a government prints excessive amounts of paper money not backed by sufficient real assets.
Yes, the standard plural is 'assignats'.
A paper bill issued during the French Revolution, secured by confiscated national lands.
Assignat is usually academic / historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not worth an assignat (historical/metaphorical for worthless).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
ASSIGN AT the revolution: France assigned value to paper AT that time.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A PROMISE (often a broken one). A SCRAP OF PAPER.
Practice
Quiz
What was the primary collateral for the French assignat?